Escorted Cycling tour in Burgundy

The mention of the word ‘Burgundy’ — Bourgogne to the French — conjures up many images. To some, the first thing that springs to mind is wine, from the crisp whites of Chablis to the prestigious reds of the Côte D’Or — Nuits-St-George, Pommard, Aloxe-Corton and Puligny-Montrachet being but a few. And do not forget Kir, the traditional aperitif of Burgundy, made from Cassis blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon and Bourgogne Aligote white wine.

Others will think of food — boeuf bourguinon, burgundy snails, Dijon mustard are just some of the speciailities ripe for discovery by gourmets.

The countryside encompasses the Morvan regional natural park, a plateau of rolling countryside stretching from the Vosges mountains in the East to the upper reaches of the river Loire in the West. The beautiful countryside is made up of fields and meadows divided by hedgerows and criss-crossed by the tiny country lanes which make up our route.

Rooftops in Beaune.
Many rivers and streams spring from the plateau and feed the Seine to the north and the Saone and Rhone to the south, and many of which have been dammed to provide the area with many lakes. Man has also had an impact with the creation of a network of canals across the region, many of which provide cycling opportunities along their towpaths.

Burgundy has more than its fair share of man made glories, dating from the 8C BC when Celts invaded from what is present day Austria. Incorporated into the Roman empire in the 1st century, the Gallo-Roman civilisation expanded and left its mark on the landscape. The first Christian churches were built as early as the 4th century. Magnificent abbeys were founded at Cluny and Vézelay in the 10th C, and in the later middle ages cathedrals sprang up at Auxerre, Autun and Dijon. The burgeoning wine trade resulted in superb architecture for the wealthy merchants who built stunning houses and public buildings in Beaune, Auxerre, Dijon and Autun.

Our tour takes in all the varied aspects of Burgundy, both natural and man-made — and we make sure that you don't miss out on the regional gastronomic delights!

The cycling ranges from easy on some days to moderate on others, but should be comfortably achievable for anyone of reasonable fitness.